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Martselos to resign as Salt River chief Paul Bickford Northern News Services Published Monday, August 15, 2011
Martselos announced her plans at a band council meeting on Aug. 9. Her last day in office will be Sept. 12. Martselos is not talking to the media about her decision. John Carter, the chief executive officer of the band, said the chief did not offer any reason for her resignation during her announcement on Aug. 9. "For whatever reason, the chief has decided that she will step down," Carter said. "But she's a very classy lady and I'm sure she has done this with everybody's best interest at heart," he added. Carter noted that a byelection will be held under the band's customary election regulations to fill the vacancy. No date has yet been set for the byelection. The band does not have a sub-chief, just a chief and six councillors. Martselos' time as SRFN chief has been nothing if not interesting. She was first elected chief in a byelection in April of 2007. Band council ousted her just a week later, but she was reinstated by a court in early 2008. In August of 2008, Martselos was re-elected chief. However, the losing candidate appealed the result to an arbitrator, who overturned the elections of Martselos and three councillors. The arbitrator ruled Martselos, while supported by the three successful candidates for council, unduly influenced the results of the 2008 vote. In June of 2009, Martselos was once again elected leader of the band. SRFN has about 850 members, including 350 in Fort Smith.
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